Apparatus for adding fertilizer to water in an underground sprinkling system and fertilizer therefor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for adding fertilizer to water flowing in an underground sprinkler system includes a pressure chamber with a bladder therein which holds liquid fertilizer. Water under line pressure surrounds the bladder in the chamber to pressurize the bladder and fertilizer therein. The pressurized liquid fertilizer flows from the bladder through a valve such as a needle valve which controls flow rate and through a valve such as a butterfly valve which opens to allow fertilizer flow when water flows through the line to which the fertilizer is to be added. With no flow of water, the valve is closed to prevent flow of fertilizer. The lid to the opening to the inside of the bladder used to fill the bladder with fertilizer is arranged to operate two valves. One controls flow of pressurized line water into the chamber to pressurize the bladder in the chamber when the lid is opened and the other opens a drain to depressurize the chamber when the lid is opened to allow fertilizer to be added to the bladder. A preferred fertilizer for use in the apparatus includes a bio-stimulant

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field

[0002] The invention is in the field apparatus for adding fertilizers to sprinkler system water so as to fertilize a lawn and garden during watering of such lawn and garden with an underground sprinkler system. It is also in the field of fertilizers used in such systems.

[0003] 2. State of the Art

[0004] Various types of fertilization systems for use with sprinkler systems have been proposed. Some of these include compartments for holding solid fertilizer and run water over the solid fertilizer to dissolve it into the water. Others include pumps to pump liquid fertilizer into the water lines. While the pumps provide positive injection of fertilizer into the water, they require power to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to the invention, positive flow of a liquid fertilizer into water flowing in a water line or pipe to sprinklers in a sprinkler system is achieved by using line water pressure to pressurize a bladder containing liquid fertilizer. The fertilizer flows through a flow line from the pressurized bladder to the water pipe and is injected into the water flowing through the pipe. The inlet from the water pipe to the pressure chamber is up stream of the location of injection of the fertilizer into the water flowing through the pipe so that the pressure around the bladder created by the water from the pipe is greater than the pressure of the water as it flows past the fertilizer inlet. This creates a positive pressure flow of fertilizer into the water flowing through the pipe. A flow operated valve, such as a special butterfly valve, only opens to allow flow of fertilizer during flow of water through the pipe to the sprinklers. Thus, flow of fertilizer is blocked if the sprinkler system is turned off so that no water is flowing to the sprinklers. Further, any back flow of water from the pipe into the bladder is blocked by such valve during periods of no flow A regulator, generally a control valve, such as a needle valve, is positioned in the flow line and can be adjusted to control the rate of flow of fertilizer into the water flowing in the pipe.

[0006] The bladder is contained in a closed pressure chamber communicating with the water pipe so that water at line pressure enters the pressure chamber and pressurizes the bladder. A normally closed access opening, such as in the top of the pressure chamber, may be opened to the inside of the bladder to fill the bladder with fertilizer. However, to be able to open the access opening, pressure has to be relieved in the pressure chamber and bladder. In order to release the pressure in the pressure chamber and bladder, the cover of the access opening is operably coupled to a line valve which closes to disconnect the pressure chamber from the water pipe and to a drain valve to drain pressurized water from the pressure chamber when the cover to the access opening is opened. These valves work together to depressurize the chamber when the cover to the access opening is opened so that the bladder can be filled with liquid fertilizer when necessary. When the opening is closed, the cover to the opening operates the valves to close the drain valve and open the line valve to again pressurize the chamber.

[0007] The apparatus may advantageously use a fertilizer which includes a combination of traditional chemical fertilizers along with a bio stimulant which promotes microbial action in the soil to increase the utilization of the chemical fertilizer by the vegetation to which the combination fertilizer is applied.

THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the accompanying drawings, which show the best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of the body and lid of the apparatus of the invention;

[0010]FIG. 2, a side elevation of an apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3, a vertical section of the apparatus taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and showing the top assembled to the body;

[0012]FIG. 4, a vertical section similar to that of FIG. 3 showing a partial collapse of the bladder as the fertilizer is used;

[0013]FIG. 5, a longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

[0014]FIG. 6, a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2 and not showing the top;

[0015]FIG. 7, a vertical section through a butterfly valve of the invention;

[0016]FIG. 8, avertical section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

[0017]FIG. 9, a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The apparatus of the invention includes a base plate 10, and a body support 11 which supports body 12 above base plate 10. Body 12 includes a water pipe 13 with end connectors 14 and 15 for connection in the main water supply line of an underground sprinkler system. The apparatus should be connected in the sprinkler system upstream of the valves which control the various sprinkler zones so that all sprinklers in the sprinkler system are supplied with fertilizer.

[0019] The body 12 also includes a pressure chamber 16 formed by cylindrical pressure chamber wall 17 with upper flange 18, and pressure chamber bottom 19. Pressure chamber lid 20 closes pressure chamber 16, and may be secured to pressure chamber flange 18, such as by screws, not shown, extending through screw holes 21 around the perimeter of the lid 20 into screw holes 22 in flange 18. Bosses 24 projecting from pressure chamber wall 17 provide extensions of screw holes 22 and reinforce flange 18. Pressure chamber 16 is spaced and supported above pipe 13 by spacer 25 extending from pipe 13. Cylindrical wall 26, FIG. 2, houses a dead end bore 27 extending from the bottom center of pressure chamber 16. Bore 28 extending through spacer 25 connects bore 27 with a bore 29 which extends into pipe 13, and is formed by cylindrical wall 30 with upper enlarged portion 31. Platform 32 extends along the upper edge of spacer 25 and connects enlarged cylindrical wall 31 to pressure chamber wall 17.

[0020] A flexible bladder 33 fits into pressure chamber 16 against chamber bottom 19 and chamber wall 17 with bladder flange 34 sandwiched between flange 18 and lid 20. Lid 20 forms the top for bladder 33. The bladder may be made of a variety of materials such as latex or other plastic or rubber materials. With lid 20 secured in place, access to the bladder 33 can be gained through access opening 35 when access opening cover 36 is removed. Opening cover 36 is threaded into opening 35 with handle 37 making it easy to turn. The thread 38 is preferably configured so the cover 36 and handle 37 will turn less than one complete revolution to secure or remove cover 36. Removal of cover 36 allows access to inside bladder 33 so that bladder 33 can be filled and refilled with fertilizer as needed. A window 39 may be provided in lid 20, if desired, so a user can see into pressure chamber 16 to see if additional fertilizer is needed.

[0021] The bottom of bladder 33 has an opening 40 therethrough which aligns with bore 27. The upper end of bore 27 is threaded to receive a bladder stem 41 screwed thereinto. A washer 42 secured to bladder stem 41 squeezes the bladder around bore 27 against chamber bottom 19 to seal around the hole. Bladder stem 41 has a plurality of holes 43 spaced along and around stem 41. Liquid fertilizer from the bladder flows through stem holes 43 into the stem from where it flows into dead end bore 27, along bore 28, to bore 29. The purpose of stem 41 is to ensure that the bladder will not prematurely block bore 27 and block fertilizer flow before the bladder is substantially empty.

[0022] Bore 29 includes a metering means in the form of a needle valve including seat 45 and needle 46. Valve stem 47 is threaded into the upper end of bore 29 at 48 and has a handle 50 at the top end thereof. O-rings 51 seal stem 47 in bore 29 to prevent leakage. Rotation of handle 50 and stem 47 will cause the end of needle 46 to move toward or away from seat 45 thereby controlling the amount of fertilizer that can flow from bladder 33 into pipe 13. It is currently preferred to configure the threads and needle so that a partial revolution of handle 50 will allow the user to select from off to preset full flow.

[0023] A flow valve 55 is secured to the outlet end of bore 29 where it enters the inside of pipe 13. The purpose of flow valve 55 is to close and prevent flow of fertilizer from bladder 33 into pipe 13 during a time the sprinklers are turned off so there is no water flow through the pipe. It also prevents any possible back flow of water from the pipe into the bladder during such time. The flow valve may take the form of a special butterfly valve positioned in pipe 13 as shown in FIG. 3 and shown enlarged in FIGS. 7 and 8. Butterfly valve 55 provides a needle valve which opens in response to flow in the pipe, the velocity of flow determining how much the valve opens. Bore 29 connects with valve flow passage 56 so that fertilizer flows through passage 57 in seat 45 of the needle valve in bore 29 into flow passage 56 of the butterfly valve. From passage 56, fertilizer flows through passage 58 in seat 59 around needle 60, into bore 61 and through passage 62 into pipe 13. Needle 60 extends from shaft 63 which is free to slide in bore 61 and has its opposite end supported and guided by guide 64. A spring 65 between guide 64 and wings 66 biases shaft 63 toward seat 59 so that needle 60 closes passage 58. When no flow occurs in pipe 13, spring 65 biases the valve to closed position. When water flows in pipe 13, the flowing water pushes wings 66against the bias of spring 65 to move shaft 63 and needle 60 away from seat 59 to thereby open the valve and allow fertilizer to flow through passage 58 around needle 60. The flow velocity of water through the pipe 13 will determine how much force the wings 66 apply against the bias of spring 65 and to what degree the needle valve opens. Thus, at faster flow rates, meaning more water is passing through the pipe to the sprinklers, more fertilizer is allow to flow into the water. The valve is preferably calibrated to provide a set amount of fertilizer per unit of water flowing in the pipe. Of course, other means of controlling the flow of fertilizer into the water flowing in pipe 13 could be used, such as special injectors that would inject a set amount of fertilizer per unit of flow or unit of time, such as an injector that would inject a drop of fertilizer ever second during flow of water.

[0024] Because the pressure chamber and bladder are continuously pressurized whenever water is pressurized in the line, in order to fill or refill the bladder with fertilizer as the fertilizer is used, it is necessary to relieve the pressure in the pressure chamber before filling the balder. Water enters the pressure chamber 16 through inlet passage 70 of inlet 71. The water flows through valve seat 72 around valve element 73 located in bore 74 formed by wall 74 a of the apparatus and through passage 75 into pressure chamber 16, outside bladder 33. A valve stem 76 in bore 74 has an end pin 77 extending from the lower end thereof through valve seat 72 to hold valve element 73 away from seat 72 when the valve is open. A spring 78 biases stem 76 upwardly into closed position where valve element 73 seats against seat 72. A stem rod 79 extends from stem 76 upwardly out of bore 74 where the end of stem rod 79 abuts the bottom of handle 37 of access cover 36. The underside of handle 37 includes a ramp 80 which cams rod 79 downward as handle 37 rotates to screw cover 36 into lid opening 35 to thereby secure it in the opening in closed position. Upon rotating handle 37 and cover 36 to open position, ramp 80 allows rod 79 to move upwardly under the bias of spring 78 toward the bottom of handle 37 to move valve element 73 against seat 72 to close the valve and thereby close the connection of the pressure chamber to the pressurized line water. Thus, upon opening access cover 36, pressurized water from the water line is blocked from entering pressure chamber 16. The water pressure acting on valve element 73 when closed ensures that the valve will remain closed. O-rings 81 prevent leakage of water around stem 76.

[0025] At the same time, a drain valve in bore 82 formed by wall 82 a, FIGS. 1 and 9, is operated to drain water from the pressure chamber and relieve the pressure therein. Pressure chamber 16 is connected to bore 82 by passage 83. Valve element 84 is connected by pin 85 to valve stem 86. A stem rod 87 extends from stem 86 upwardly out of bore 82 where the end of stem rod 87, like stem rod 79, abuts the bottom of handle 37 and ramp 80 thereon of access cover 39. Ramp 80 cams rod 87 downwardly as handle 37 rotates to screw cover 36 into lid opening 35. This holds the drain valve in closed condition when the access opening is closed. Upon rotating handle 37 and cover 36 to open position, ramp 80 allows rod 87 to move upwardly under the bias of a spring 88 toward the bottom of handle 37 to move valve element 84 away from seat 85 thereby opening the drain valve and the connection of the pressure chamber to the atmosphere. This allows pressure chamber 16 to drain through end 89 on bore 82. Thus, upon opening access cover 36, pressurized water from pressure chamber 16 is allowed to escape to the atmosphere to relieve pressure in the pressure chamber 16. O-rings 90 prevent leakage of water around stem 87.

[0026] During flow in pipe 13, the pressure of the water entering inlet 71 through inlet passage 70, and thus the pressure of the water in pressure chamber 16, is greater than the water pressure exerted on outlet passage 62 where the fertilizer from the pressure chamber is injected into the water flowing in pipe 13. This means that the fertilizer is under positive pressure in the pressure chamber with respect to the fertilizer outlet 62 so that the fertilizer is injected into the water flowing in pipe 13. Because of this accurate and repeatable control of flow of fertilizer into the water flowing in the pipe 13 can be achieved With pressure on bladder 33, as fertilizer flows from the bladder, the bladder is forced to contract, as shown in FIG. 4. Depending upon the situation and desired fertilization of the vegetation being watered. the bladder can be refilled as necessary when it is emptied for substantially continuous fertilization each time the vegetation is watered, or the bladder can be filled on a set periodic basis, such as once a month to provide monthly fertilization of the vegetation.

[0027] The invention also includes a special fertilizer which includes not only the normal macronutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as included in most fertilizers, but also includes bio-stimulants that cause microbial action in the soil to break down the components of the fertilizer applied into forms more usable by the vegetation treated and to breakdown and release other minerals in the soil. These other minerals are the micronutrients needed by the vegetation. The bio-stimulant is a mixture of enzymes, complexed carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, and micronutrients, i.e., nutrients needed in small amounts by plants, such as boron, iron and zinc. A bio-stimulant triggers natural biological processes in the soil that convert tied up nutrients into a soluable form that plants can immediately utilize. The bio-stimulant also accelerates the break down and conversion of organic matter, such as crop residue, lawn clippings, etc., into humus, an extremely beneficial source of nutrients for plants. It does this by increasing the populations of indigenous microorganisms in the soil. A bio-stimulant suitable for use in the fertilizer of the invention is available under the name AGRI-GRO® from Agri-Gro Marketing, Inc. in Doniphan, Mo. The AGRI-GRO® product is derived from culturing and fermenting microbes such as azotobacter, baccillus and clostridium. The use of the bio-stimulant with the conventional fertilizer makes the conventional fertilizer go about twice as far and makes other micronutrients in the soil available for plant use. Further, the fertilizer of the invention has an acidic nature that helps keep the fertilizer from coagulating or crystalizing which could cause clogging of the passageways in the apparatus of the invention. Thus, use of such fertilizer with the apparatus of the invention helps to ensure that the apparatus works satisfactorily.

[0028] Preferred formulations of the fertilizer will contain between about 7% to about 18% nitrogen, about 2% to about 20% Phosphorus, about 2% to about 13% potassium, and about 6% to about 25% bio-stimulant. The fertilizer is generally made by taking a conventional fertilizer that provides a nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium analysis and mixing that with the bio-stimulant. Thus, a 10-13-13 conventional fertilizer (10% nitrogen, 13% phosphorus, and 13% potassium) may be mixed with bio-stimulant so that 15% of the final mixed fertilizer is bio-stimulant. In such case, the final concentrations in the mixed fertilizer will be 15% bio-stimulant, 8% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 10% potassium. In a preferred form of fertilizer, the nitrogen is a urea nitrogen, the phosphorus is provided as phosphate or phosphoric acid, and the potassium is provided as potash, potassium hydroxide. Different formulation will be used for different uses, such as gardens or lawns and for different times of year.

[0029] Whereas the invention is here illustrated and described with reference to embodiments thereof presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out the invention in actual practice, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in adapting the invention to different embodiments without departing from the broader inventive concepts disclosed herein and comprehended by the claims that follow. 

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line, comprising: a body forming a pressure chamber; a bladder adapted to hold liquid fertilizer therein positioned within the pressure chamber; a flow line connecting the bladder to a pipe through which water flows to sprinklers in a sprinkler system; a flow valve in the flow line which closes to prevent flow through the flow line when no water is flowing through the pipe and opens to allow flow through the flow line when water flows through the pipe; an access opening to the bladder in the pressure chamber to allow the bladder to be filled with a liquid fertilizer; a cover to close the access opening; a first valve operatively coupled to the cover to allow flow of water from the pipe to the pressure chamber when the cover is closed to thereby pressurize the pressure chamber, and to block flow when the cover is open; and a second valve operatively coupled to the cover to open a drain to drain pressurized water from the pressure chamber when the cover is opened and to close the drain when the cover is closed;
 2. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 1, additionally including a regulator to regulate flow through the flow line when the flow valve is open.
 3. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 2, wherein the regulator is a needle valve in the flow line.
 4. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 3, wherein the cover includes a handle with a closed position when the cover is closed and an open position when the cover is open, wherein the first valve includes an actuator, and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to open the first valve when the handle is in closed position and to close the first valve when the handle is moved to open position.
 5. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 4, wherein the second valve includes an actuator, and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to close the second valve when the handle is in closed position and to open the second valve when the handle is moved to open position.
 6. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 5, wherein the handle includes a caming surface that interacts with the actuators of the first and second valves.
 7. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 6, wherein the first and second valves are positioned in respective bores and the actuators extend from the respective bores to contact the caming surface of the handle.
 8. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 7, wherein the flow valve is a butterfly valve positioned in the pipe and operated by flow of water through the pipe at the location of the valve in the pipe.
 9. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 8, wherein the butterfly valve is biased to closed position, and wherein the butterfly valve includes wings slidably mounted to move back and forth in the direction of flow through the pipe between a position wherein the valve is closed and a position wherein the valve is open, the wings being biased to the closed position, the open position being in the direction of flow.
 10. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a handle with a closed position when the cover is closed and an open position when the cover is open, wherein the first valve includes an actuator, and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to open the first valve when the handle is in closed position and to close the first valve when the handle is moved to open position.
 11. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 10, wherein the second valve includes an actuator, and wherein the actuator interacts with the handle to close the second valve when the handle is in closed position and to open the second valve when the handle is moved to open position.
 12. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 11, wherein the handle includes a caming surface that interacts with the actuators of the first and second valves.
 13. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 12, wherein the first and second valves are positioned in respective bores and the actuators extend from the respective bores to contact the caming surface of the handle.
 14. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 1, wherein the flow valve is a butterfly valve positioned in the pipe and operated by flow of water through the pipe at the location of the valve in the pipe.
 15. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 14, wherein the butterfly valve is biased to closed position, and wherein the butterfly valve includes wings slidably mounted to move back and forth in the direction of flow through the pipe between a position wherein the valve is closed and a position wherein the valve is open, the wings being biased to the closed position, the open position being in the direction of flow.
 16. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 1, in combination with a liquid fertilizer in the bladder, wherein the liquid fertilizer comprises: nitrogen containing material; phosphorus containing material; potassium containing material; and a bio-stimulant that increases microbial activity in the soil to which it is applied to convert minerals applied to the soil and in the soil to forms that are usable by vegetation growing in the soil.
 17. Apparatus for adding liquid fertilizer to a sprinkler line according to claim 16, wherein the fertilizer includes between about 7% to about 18% nitrogen, about 2% to about 20% Phosphorus, about 2% to about 13% potassium, and about 6% to about 25% bio-stimulant.
 18. A fertilizer for mixing with water in a sprinkler system to fertilize vegetation during watering of such vegetation with the sprinkler system, comprising: nitrogen containing material; phosphorus containing material; potassium containing material; and a bio-stimulant that increases microbial activity in the soil to which it is applied to convert minerals applied to the soil and in the soil to forms that are usable by vegetation growing in the soil.
 19. A fertilizer according to claim 18, wherein the bio-stimulant is derived from at least azotobacter, bacillus, and clostridium bacteria.
 20. A fertilizer according to claim 18, wherein the fertilizer includes between about 7% to about 18% nitrogen, about 2% to about 20% Phosphorus, about 2% to about 13% potassium, and about 6% to about 25% bio-stimulant. 